Compare towns
Bennington vs Hampton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bennington | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
10,101Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.